Rumtopf, Fruit and Rum Pot, Recipe

It is a centuries old tradition. A way of conserving summer's soft fruits that takes a few months before it is ready to eat, but with an end result well worth the work; and the wait. Rumtopf is easy to make, hard to "mess up" and delicious.

As fruit comes into season during the summer it is layered in a pot with sugar, covered with rum, left until Advent and enjoyed at Christmas and the cold winter months.

A taste of summer in winter, and a winter treat long before the first written recipe from the 1700's, the legend is that it was Northern German seamen who first discovered Rumtopf by accident.

Fruit they had collected and stored at stops during their voyage fell into barrels of rum and, after tasting the result, the sailors found not only had the fruit been preserved but the added flavour of rum was a delicious bonus.

"Stored in rum" became the accepted way to transport and preserve fruit when under sail and it was gradually adopted in kitchens throughout the country. Although the name Rumtopf did not appear until 1885 in "ABC der Kueche", a cookbook written by Hedwig Heyl. She had been born into a North German ship owning family from Bremen, so knew something of sailing traditions.

Blackberries and blueberries can be added and are delicious, although they do color the other fruits
Star anise and vanilla pods can be put into to the Rumtopf in October
It is not traditional but pineapple can also be used and works well

Do not use:

Citrus fruit such as oranges or lemons as they are acidic and make the Rumtopf sour
Bananas and melons turn really mushy and make the liquor watery
Apples are not improved either in taste or texture by the rum and sugar mix

You will need:

Large wide mouthed jar, preferably stoneware or porcelain, alternatively dark glass container, with a well fitting lid, to be placed in a cool and dark area.Dark or amber Rum - high strength at least 54 percent proof, preferably higherSugar Brown is best, half pound sugar to one pound prepared fruit or berries, weigh fruit and sugar

Method:

Wash container thoroughly with soap or vinegar water, rinse out several times with boiling water and dry
Use perfectly ripe and undamaged fruit without blemishes
Carefully wash, dry and prepare fruit. Do not peel any but the pears if you use them, and of course pineapple.

Small fruits and berries, such as pitted cherries, strawberries and currents, should be left whole and the other fruit spoon sized, with medium fruit, plums, apricots, halved and pitted, and pears and peaches cut into wedges.

Put weighed prepared fruit in jar
Cover with a half quantity of sugar. 1lb fruit to 1/2lb sugar
Gently stir through so sugar is distributed
Leave for one hour
Add rum to cover fruit and sugar mix completely plus two centimeters, one inch
Cover with a small porcelain or ceramic plate, to ensure the fruit stays under the rum as exposed pieces turn brown.
Seal jar, cover top with plastic wrap to make it airtight, leave in cool dark place

The fruit takes six weeks to mature completely but a second layer of seasonal berries or fruits can be added after two weeks.

Remove plastic wrap, lid and plate. Gently stir contents of jar.
Add additional layer of prepared fruit
Add sugar, do not stir
Leave for one hour so the sugar begins to work its way over the fruit
Cover with rum
Replace plate
Reseal top with lid and plastic wrap
Leave in cool dark place

An ongoing project this sequence can continue until October, with the fruit and berries of your choice as they come into season, and check now and then that the contents remain covered by rum adding more if necessary.

If the fruits you want to use are all on hand at the same time it is possible to make the entire Rumtopf in a day, making sure the different layers are individually coated with sugar and left for an hour and then covered with rum.

After the final layer has been added the Rumtopf must be left for at least six weeks to mature.

When the Rumtopf is ready it can be used as:

A sauce for ice cream: vanilla ice cream, large spoonful of syrup and fruit, warm or cold, served as sauceA dessert: served in individual glasses "as is" with whipped cream or creme fraicheA meringue sandwich: whipped cream and Rumtopf fruit, served with two small meringues or in a meringue shellA cocktail: one part Rumtopf liquor to 2 parts sparkling wine, small pieces of fruit added to the glassA fruit fool: puree Rumtopf, fold into whipped cream A side dish for meats: warm Rumtopf, serve with pork, chicken, duck or gameAs a drink or as a preserve: the strained Rumtopf liquid in a glass as a liquor or after dinner drink, small alcoholic pieces of fruit put into a bowl as alcoholic canapes for guests to help themselves, as a warm or cold filling for pancakes, as a topping for cheesecake or baked apple